June. 2014June. 2014 STEM INNOVATIONS TEAMSTEM INNOVATIONS TEAM

Dr. Susan BelgradProfessor of Elementary Education

CSUN STEM Innovations Team Leader

CSUN STEM Innovations Team

Faculty in the

Michael D. Eisner College Education

and the

College of Engineering and Computer Sciences

1. Create a climate for all students to achieve a STEM-discipline sense of belonging and a

growth mindset 2. Become a part of ASCD’s Whole Child Initiative; ASCD 3. Seek school-wide Project-Based Learning strategies (offered through CTL);

 4. Implement Common Core State Standards with focus on these essential elements:     - Science ( and related learning dispositions)      - Digital Literacy - Engineering        - Mathematics (deep conceptual learning)

How Do Schools become EffectiveSTEM Centers for Learning?

Questions we are pursuing:

1) What is the concept of “workforce development strategy? ” Who needs this? Who is on board to deliver it? Who will fund it?

2) Is it possible for diverse (all) learners to access and maintain achievement of the career paths that require STEM leaning?

3) Is the concept of stereotype threat (ST) real and persistent? For girls and women? For students who are Hispanic or African American? What are the costs of this to U.S. education, workforce, quality of life, economy?

4) How might we mitigate any effects of ST by introducing students and their parents to engineering activities as early as the first grade? (Sense of Belonging)

Questions we are currently pursuing:

4) If it is true that STEM-based knowledge will drive the workforce over the next three decades, why aren’t educators being advanced and engaged as major players in solving the problem? Isn’t teaching math and science in ways that promote conceptual understanding now more important than ever?

5) Should CSUN as a principal agent in the preparation and continuing professional development of teachers and school administrators be responsible for getting this information into schools and helping them to “gear up” towards bringing Career Technology Education (CTE) pathways into K-12 schooling?

Questions we are currently pursuing:

6) And should we not also be responsible for bringing awareness of the “Cool Careers in Science and Engineering” to the attention of educators in the Los Angeles region? To parents? To children?

7) How do we begin to engage our elementary, middle school and high school educators?

STEM became an acronym for the fields of study in the categories of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The acronym has been used regarding access to United States work visas for immigrants who are skilled in these fields.

It has also become commonplace in education discussions as a reference to the shortage of skilled workers and inadequate education in these areas. The initiative began to address the perceived lack of qualified candidates for high-tech jobs.

STEM also addresses concern that the subjects are often taught in isolation, instead of as an integrated curriculum. Maintaining a citizenry that is well versed in the STEM fields is a key portion of the public education agenda of the United States. Wikipedia

 

Why STEM? Why now?

What are the California Workforce Needs in STEM?

There is a diverse range of industries and STEM occupations:

Industries in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services sector:

• Accounting and Bookkeeping Services • Architectural Services, Management Consulting Services• Engineering Services- Computer-Integrated

Manufacturing• Computer Systems Design, Coding and Related

Services • Research AND Development in Bio-technology

These industries also employ workers in a wide variety of STEM occupations such as operations research, analysts,

engineers, biochemists and biophysicists, graphic designers, and computer programmers.

9

Hot Jobs in STEMOccupation Median Pay, 2011 Growth, 2010-2020

Biomedical Engineers $81,540 62%

Medical Scientists $76,700 36%

Geographers $72,800 35%

Database Administrators $73,490 31%

Biochemists and Biophysicists $79,390 31%

Software Developers $90,530 30%

Network and Computer Systems Administrators $69,160 28%

Surveyors $54,880 25%

Environmental Engineering Technicians $43,390 24%

Architects $72,550 24%

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians $41,380 24%

Epidemiologists $63,010 24%

Survey Researchers $36,050 24%

Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer Network Architects $75,660 22%

Computer Systems Analysts $77,740 22%

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists $54,510 22%

Environmental Engineers $78,740 22%

Psychologists $68,640 22%

Anthropologists and Archeologists $54,230 21%

Geoscientists $82,500 21%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)

How do we begin to engage our elementary, middle school and high school educators?

Many already have!

How do we fund next generation school

innovation?

How do we fund next generation school

innovation?

How do we fund next generation school

innovation?

Pathways Trust Grants

While CA does not have Computer Technology and

Engineering standards, many schools have some level of

E in STEM engagement.

Here is one example: Sound Familiar?

Monroe High School Engineering and Design students have joined up with 5th grade students at Vintage Elementary School to build bridges.  Each 5th grade class is represented by four students from that class. Working in groups along with their high school mentors, students are building bridges out of popsicle sticks and glue.  Their goal is to build the strongest bridge. All bridges must have a 14 inch span.  Students meet at lunch time on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 

Wednesday, 12 December 2012 18:29 | Written by Debbie Stone

 

Monroe HS Builds Bridges with Vintage

Equlilaterals

A Brief STEM Activity

Sample COOPERATIVE GROUP ACTIVITY

Task: Each Team will be responsible for achieving an engineering design with the blocks provided; discussing the science, technology and math principles that affect decisions making and task completion; and completing the engineering notebook page.  

Time Limit for Creating the structure: 3 minutes

Create a Structure with a Keystone

Scratch

Here is another example of STEM preparation local schools are using:

http://iridescentlearning.org/programs/familycs/

Student/Family STEM Engagement

https://picasaweb.google.com/113239471880384339965/BestOfIridescent?feat=flashalbum#slideshow/5676104508449069666

Engineering is Elementary

Museum of Science, BostonEngineering is ElementaryCSUN will train teachers in this

program.http://legacy.mos.org/eie/20_unit.php

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY

Foundation Units

• Design and Modeling

• Automation and Robotics

• Energy and the Environment

Specialization Units

• Flight and Space

• Science and Technology

• Magic of Electrons

• Green Architecture

Gateway To Technology Middle School Program

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY

Foundation Courses• Introduction to Engineering

Design • Principles Of Engineering

Specialization Courses

• Aerospace Engineering

• Biotechnical Engineering

Specialization Units

• Civil Engineering and Architecture

•Computer Integrated Manufacturing

•Digital Electronics

Capstone Course

•Engineering Design and Development

Pathway to Engineering High School Program

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY

Foundation Units • Principles of the Biomedical

Sciences Students study research processes, human medicine and are introduced to bio-informatics

• •Human Body Systems Students study basic human physiology, especially in relationship to human health

• Medical Interventions Students investigate various medical interventions that extend and improve quality of life, including gene therapy, pharmacology, surgery, prosthetics, rehabilitation, and supportive care

• Biomedical Innovation/Capstone Course

• Students work with a mentor, identify a science

• research topic, conduct research, write a scientific

• paper, and defend

High School Program Biomedical Science

CSUN ESTEME SCHOOL NETWORK

The Enhancing the E in STEM (ESTEME) Initiative is the focus of a vibrant, ongoing partnership of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Michael D. Eisner College of Education. It maintains a strong relationship and shared vision to create a sustained Academic Pipeline of engineering and computer-technology curriculum throughout K-16 schooling for all learners.

CSUN ESTEME SCHOOL NETWORK

Several informal science organizations join us in offering activities that will inspire students and parents to pursue their STEM studies in which they become prepared to enter the growing high-technology-high knowledge workforce as scientists, engineers, information technology specialists and leaders. Our important ongoing collaboration with the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation (REC); and new relationship with the National Center for Technological Literacy (NCTL) of the Museum of Science, Boston has been further enhanced with our recent agreement to become a Hub-Site Provider for the Engineering is Elementary school program they have offered since 2004. And CSUN is now strongly engaged with Project Lead the Way as we introduce and deliver the resources of their Computer Science and Engineering, Green Technology and Biomed curricula to the schools we serve in the San Fernando, Simi and Santa Clarita Valleys of Southern California.

CSUN ESTEME SCHOOL NETWORK

In addition, Iridescent Learning, Los Angeles, an organization that has been funded by NSF is providing the Project with assistance in delivering DIY workshops and E in STEM family activities. The Columbia Memorial Space Center, an organization dedicated to aerospace science and exploration that has been funded by NASA, together with the Sally Ride Science Community, will assist us to assure increased STEM discipline career awareness and school success for elementary-level underserved students and their families. The funding of this Project will result in a disseminatable “workforce development strategy” for other University-School/Community-Informal Science Networks.

Did you celebrate PI Day with your students last week?  Here is an Activity to take home

Celebrate Math Everyday—

Math Achievement Matters!

University of Chicago Everyday Math --- Minute Math

Math Their Way Daily Activities

Contact the Stem Innovations Team:Dr. Susan Belgradsusan.belgrad@csun.edu

Steve Holle, Center for Teaching and Learning

holle@csun.edu